Strawberry plant named &#39;BG-4.367&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘BG-4.367’. This new strawberry plant named ‘BG-4.367’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its large fruit size, firm to very firm flesh, early season fruit production, strong interveinal blistering and small petiolule.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘BG-4.367’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2004 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-633’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-414.065’ (a non-patented selection). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif. in the winter of 2006. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both Siskiyou County, Calif. and San Joaquin County, Calif. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘BG-4.367’is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the winter and spring production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘BG-4.367’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

1. Large fruit size;

2. Firm to very firm flesh;

3. Early season fruit production;

4. Strong interveinal blistering; and

5. Small petiolule.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘BG-4.367’ is ‘BG-959’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,864). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-959’, ‘BG-4.367’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘BG-4.367’ ‘BG-959’ (US PP17,864) Fruit size (gm) 28.5 (large) 26.3 (medium) Marketable yield 1,193 1,034 (gm/plant) Plant size Medium Ranges from medium to small Number of stolons Medium Many Terminal leaflet L/W ratio Much longer Longer than broad than broad Foliage color Medium green Ranges from medium to dark green Leaf shape in cross section Strongly concave Ranges from concave to convex Petiole pubescence Moderate Heavy

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘BG-4.367’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-633’ and ‘BG-414.065’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 ‘BG-633’ Characteristic ‘BG-4.367’ (US PP13,320) ‘BG-414.065’ Marketable yield 1,193 869 423 (gm/plant) Fruit size 28.5 gm (large) 26.6 gm (medium) 22.9 (small) Plant size Medium Medium Very large

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4.367’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘BG-4.367’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4.367’ are approximately six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, Calif.:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘BG-4.367’, taken in the month of April 2013;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘BG-4.367’, taken in the month of April 2013;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘BG-4.367’, taken in the month of April 2013; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘BG-4.367’, taken in the month of April 2013.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘BG-4.367’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘BG-4.367’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘BG-4.367’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2013 growing season in Ventura County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘BG-4.367’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during early October 2012 and planted approximately four to five days later in Ventura County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is six months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from six years of data collected from the 2008 through 2013 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following tables 3 through 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower, and pest and disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘BG-4.367’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-4.367’ Color of mature fruit RHS 46B, red Color of internal flesh RHS 45C, medium red Color of core RHS 39B, medium red Fruit length (cm)    4.6 Fruit width (cm)    4.0 Fruit size Large Fruit length/width ratio    1.16, slightly longer than broad Calyx diameter (cm)    5.3 Average fruit weight (gm)   28.5 Achene color, shaded side RHS 153B, yellow green group Achene color, sun-exposed side RHS 185A, greyed purple group Achene weight (mg)    0.55 Average achenes per berry   353 Marketable fruit yield (gm/plant) 1,193 Predominant fruit shape Conical Difference in shapes between Moderate primary and secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent or very narrow Unevenness of fruit surface Ranges from weak to medium Evenness of fruit color Even Fruit glossiness Medium Insertion of achenes Level with surface Insertion of calyx In basin Attitude of calyx Spreading Size of calyx in relation to fruit diameter Slightly larger Adherence of calyx Strong Firmness of fruit flesh Ranges from firm to very firm Distribution of red color of the flesh Marginal and central Hollow center expression Ranges from moderate to strong Fruit flavor Ranges from good to fair Soluble solids (% brix)    7.6 Time of first flowering Early Time of first harvesting Early Harvest period January to May Harvest maturity Early season Type of bearing Not remontant (short day)

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-4.367’ Plant height (cm) 21.6 Plant spread (cm) 30.3 Plant size Medium Plant habit Upright Plant density Ranges from sparse to medium Plant vigor Medium

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-4.367’ Stolon color RHS 146C, yellow green group Stolon anthocyanin coloration RHS 182B, greyed red group Stolon anthocyanin intensity Weak Average stolon quantity Medium Stolon diameter at bract (mm) 3.7, thick Stolon pubescence Medium Attitude of hairs Upward

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-4.367’ Foliage: Color of upper surface RHS 137A, medium green Color of underside RHS 147C, yellow green group Number of leaflets 3-4 Shape in cross section Strongly to slightly concave Interveinal blistering Strong Leaf glossiness Ranges from medium to strong Leaf variegation Absent Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm)  6.9 Width (cm)  5.7 Leaf size Ranges from medium to small Length/width ratio  1.22, much longer than broad Shape of base Obtuse Shape of teeth Rounded Serrations per leaf 21.9 Petiole: Petiole color RHS 145A, yellow green group Petiole length (cm) 12.4 Petiole diameter (mm)  3.9 Petiolule color RHS 145A, yellow green group Petiolule length (mm)  5.4 Attitude of hairs Slightly outward Petiole pubescence Moderate Stipule: Stipule color RHS 146C, yellow green group Stipule anthocyanin coloration RHS 58A, red purple group Stipule anthocyanin intensity Weak Stipule length (mm) 20.1 Stipule width (mm) 16.1

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-4.367’ Anthocyanin coloration RHS 181C, greyed red group Anthocyanin intensity Ranges from weak to medium Length at maturity (cm) 25.7 Position relative to foliage Ranges from level with to above Number of flowers Medium Pedicel attitude of hairs Upward Pubescence Ranges from weak to medium Attitude at first pick Prostrate

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-4.367’ Petal color RHS NN155C, white group Sepal color RHS 137A, green group Receptacle color RHS 147C, yellow green group Anther color RHS 14A, yellow orange group Corolla diameter (mm) 30.5, large Calyx diameter (mm) 33.6 Petal length (mm) 11.7 Petal width (mm) 11.9 Petal length/width ratio  0.99, as long as broad Petals per flower  5.7 Sepal length (mm) 13.3 Sepal width (mm)  6.1 Sepal length/width ratio  2.19 Sepals per flower 11.3 Size of calyx relative to corolla Larger Relative position of petals Overlapping Stamen Present Size of inner calyx relative to outer calyx Smaller

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS Characteristic ‘BG-4.367’ Powdery mildew Moderately susceptible Verticillium wilt Moderately susceptible Angular leaf spot Susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Two-spotted spider mite Moderately susceptible 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘BG-4.367’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 